The 97th edition of the Academy Awards, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will take place on March 2, 2025 at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. This annual event, one of the most anticipated in the world of cinema, recognizes the best films released in 2024, and becomes the epicenter of global cinematic glamour and talent.
The voting process for the Oscars is a rigorous and structured process, where Academy members, film professionals, determine the winners. All members who meet the requirements can participate in the voting process, and the nominations are determined by voters from the various branches of the Academy.
Preliminary voting process
Before the nominations, a preliminary vote is held for 10 award categories. At this stage, voting-eligible members, usually from the corresponding branch, participate in selecting the finalists for each category through secret online voting. The award categories with preliminary voting include:
- Animated short film
- Feature-length documentary
- Short documentary film
- International feature film
- Live action short film
- Makeup and hairdressing
- Music (Original score)
- Music (Original song)
- Sound
- Visual effects
Each category may have special rules and procedures, as described in the Academy’s rules and eligibility. The preselected titles will be announced in a press release, and if a preselected film is found to be ineligible, the category will have one less proposal.
Nomination voting process
The 23 award categories, including nominations for Best Picture, are decided through a secret online vote. While most categories are voted on by members of the corresponding branch, some may be open to voters from all branches. Nominations are announced live through platforms such as Oscar.com, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and on shows like Good Morning America.
It is important to note that if a nominated film is declared ineligible, the category will have one less nomination and will not be replaced.
Final voting process
Finally, all Academy members who meet the requirements participate in the final voting. Voters can choose in the 23 award categories, and the winners are determined by the Academy’s voting system, which ensures consensus among voters. This process is repeated in the categories until a feature film reaches more than half of the possible points, ultimately choosing the winners who are announced in the live broadcast of the Oscars ceremony.
This system aims to reflect the opinions of film professionals and, although it may seem complex, it intends to achieve a fair consensus to reward the most outstanding individuals of the year in the film industry.